Philodendron plant named &#39;Rojo Congo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron is provided. It is a large plant; suitable for production in 15-cm and larger containers; self-heading, not vining, and self-supporting; mostly upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and open; with very vigorous growth; large, thick, very dark green leaf blades; and thick, dark purple-brown petioles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofphilodendron plant, botanically known as Philodendron hybrid, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Rojo Congo.

[0002] The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Altha, Fla. The objective of the programwas to develop new vigorous, self-heading, not vining andself-supporting Philodendron cultivars useful for various containersizes, with attractive plant form and colors, with large, thick leavesand petioles shorter than the male parent.

[0003] The new Philodendron was discovered and selected by the Inventorin 1996 as a seedling within the progeny of a cross made in 1995 in acontrolled environment in Altha, Fla. The female parent was Philodendroncultivar Imperial Red, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,337. The maleparent was an unidentified selection of the Philodendron tatei Krausespp. melanochlorum (Bunting) Bunting.

[0004] Asexual propagation of ‘Rojo Congo’ since 1998 by means of tissueculture in Altha, Fla. has established that the unique characteristicsof this new cultivar are in fact stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The new Philodendron cultivar has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and/or horticultural practices such astemperature, light intensity, day length, fertilization, irrigation,propagation procedures etc., without any variance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and incombination distinguish ‘Rojo Congo’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPhilodendron:

[0007] 1. Large size plant, appropriate for 15-cm and larger containers;

[0008] 2. self-heading, not vining, self-supporting, mostly upright,somewhat outwardly spreading and open growth habit;

[0009] 3. very vigorous growth;

[0010] 4. large, thick, leathery, dark green mature leaf blades;

[0011] 5. thick, very dark purple-brown mature petioles;

[0012] 6. brown-maroon-green young leaves;

[0013] 7. long, red-purple, relatively long-lasting petiole sheaths;

[0014] 8. numerous aerial roots with distinct red zone.

[0015] Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ are distinguished from plants of thefemale parent, commercial Philodendron cultivar Imperial Red disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6337 by the following characteristics:

[0016] 1. Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ are larger, have more outwardlyspreading and open growth habit than plants of ‘Imperial Red’.

[0017] 2. Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ are more vigorous than plants of‘Imperial Red’.

[0018] 3. Leaf blades of ‘Rojo Congo’ are thicker, larger and more ovatethan leaf blades of ‘Imperial Red’.

[0019] 4. Petioles of ‘Rojo Congo’ are longer and thicker than petiolesof ‘Imperial Red’.

[0020] 5. Mature leaf blades of ‘Rojo Congo’ are darker green withgreater contrast between midrib and surrounding tissue than mature leafblades of ‘Imperial Red’.

[0021] 6. Mature petioles of ‘Rojo Congo’ are dark purple-brown, whereasmature petioles of ‘Imperial Red’ are brownish-green.

[0022] 7. Leaf petiole sheaths of ‘Rojo Congo’ are longer and darkerred-purple than leaf petiole sheaths of ‘Imperial Red’.

[0023] 8. Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ have more and thicker air roots thanplants of ‘Imperial Red’.

[0024] Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ are distinguished from plants of the maleparent, unidentified selection of the Philodendron tatei spp.melanochlorum by its smaller size; more compact and fuller growth habit;much more vigorous growth; smaller and darker green leaf blades;shorter, dark purple-brown petioles (as opposed to green petioles of theparent plant); and longer-lasting, red-purple petiole sheaths (as opposeto yellow-green petiole sheath of the parent plant).

[0025] The new cultivar can be compared to the commercial Philodendroncultivar Congo disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,724.

[0026] Plants of the new Philodendron cultivar differ from plants ofPhilodendron ‘Congo’ in the following characteristics:

[0027] 1. Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ are narrower, have more upright, lessspreading and slightly less open growth habit than plants of ‘Congo’.

[0028] 2. Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ are more vigorous than plants of‘Congo’.

[0029] 3. Leaf blades of ‘Rojo Congo’ are shorter, with lower length towidth ratio, shorter tip, more asymmetric base than leaf blades of‘Congo’.

[0030] 4. Mature leaf blades of ‘Rojo Congo’ are darker green with lesscontrasting midrib than leaf blades of ‘Congo’ and have red-purplemargin, whereas leaf blades of ‘Congo’ have light green margin.

[0031] 5. Petioles of ‘Rojo Congo’ are shorter than petioles of ‘Congo’.

[0032] 6. Mature petioles of ‘Rojo Congo’ are dark purple-brown, whereasmature petioles of ‘Congo’ are green.

[0033] 7. Unfolding leaves of ‘Rojo Congo’ have brown-maroon colorationon the blades and red-purple coloration on petioles, whereas unfoldingleaves of ‘Congo’ are completely green.

[0034] 8. Petiole sheaths of ‘Rojo Congo’ are longer-lasting and arered-purple, whereas petiole sheaths of ‘Congo’ are predominantlyyellow-green.

[0035] 9. Sheaths covering inflorescences of ‘Rojo Congo’ arered-purple, whereas sheaths covering inflorescences of ‘Congo’ arepredominantly yellow-green.

[0036] 10. Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’ have more aerial roots than plants of‘Congo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0037] The accompanying photographs illustrate the appearance of the newPhilodendron cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible in color reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographsmay appear slightly different from the color values cited in thebotanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors ofthe plants of the new cultivar. The plant of ‘Rojo Congo’ depicted inthe photographs was approximately 16 months from planting a singletissue culture-produced microcutting, and was grown in a 25-cmcontainer.

[0038] In the photographs:

[0039]FIG. 1 depicts the whole plant;

[0040]FIG. 2 illustrates the adaxial side of a mature leaf.

[0041]FIG. 3 illustrates the abaxial side of a mature leaf.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

[0042] The following observations and measurements were recorded inSeptember 2001 on plants grown in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse inAltha, Fla. under conditions which closely approximate those used incommercial horticultural practice. During growth of these plants daytemperature in the greenhouse ranged between 23° C. and 28° C., nighttemperature ranged between 21° C. and 23° C., and light level rangedbetween 800 and 1500 foot-candles. Plants used for these observationswere grown as single plants in 25-cm containers and were about 16 monthsfrom planting tissue culture-produced microcuttings.

[0043] Mature, fully developed plant organs were used for the followingobservations and measurements unless otherwise indicated. Second fullyunfolded leaf from the top was used for mature leaf description. Freepetiole sheath at the base of the unfolding or newly unfolded leaf wasused for petiole sheath description. Numerical measurements representmeans from typical plants of ‘Rojo Congo’. Color references are made tothe RHS Color Chart, except where general color terms of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were determined under natural lightof approximately 1200 to 1800 foot-candles.

[0044] Botanical Classification: Philodendron hybrid cultivar RojoCongo.

[0045] Parentage:

[0046]Female parent.—Philodendron cultivar Imperial Red, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 6337.

[0047]Male parent.—unidentified selection of the Philodendron tateiKrause spp. melanochlorum (Bunting) Bunting.

[0048] Propagation:

[0049]Type.—Plant tissue culture.

[0050]Time to produce a rooted liner.—Summer: About 10 weeks at about 25to 30° C. soil temperature. Winter: About 11 to 12 weeks at about 22 to27° C. soil temperature.

[0051] Plant Description:

[0052]Growth habit.—Self-heading, not vining, and self-supporting. Largesize, mostly upright, slightly outwardly spreading; open. Appropriatefor 15-cm and larger containers.

[0053]Plant size.—Height: About 76.5 cm. Diameter: About 112.6 cm.

[0054]Plant vigor.—Very vigorous.

[0055]Crop time.—About 7 months are needed to produce a finished plantin a 15-cm container from a single tissue culture-produced microcutting.About 12 months are needed to produce a finished plant in a 25-cmcontainer from a single tissue culture-produced microcutting.

[0056] Foliage Description:

[0057]Petiole.—

[0058]Shape.—Adaxial side slightly concave; abaxial side rounded.

[0059]Size.—About 40.6 cm long; about 13.9 mm in diameter immediatelybelow leaf blade, about 26.6 mm in diameter immediately above base.

[0060]Color.—Newly unfolded leaf, adaxial: Lighter and slightly morebrown than 187A near base; more brown than 187A in distal zone. Newlyunfolded leaf, abaxial: Slightly more brown than 187A near base; similarto 187A in distal zone. A narrow ring of a color much darker than 187Aat the juncture between petiole and leaf blade. Mature leaf, adaxial:Most similar to 200A with a slight undertone of a color darker than187A. Mature leaf, abaxial: Between 200A, 200B and 187A near base;between 200A and 187A in distal zone. A narrow ring of a color muchdarker than 187A at the juncture between petiole and leaf blade.

[0061]Petiole sheath.—

[0062]Shape.—Rolled adaxially at all times, so that only abaxial sidevisible.

[0063]Length.—About 32.4 cm

[0064]Color.—Proximal zone darker than 178A in the middle, approximately185A near margins; distal zone varies between different combinations of187A and 187B.

[0065]Leaf blade.—

[0066]Aspect.—Upper leaves relatively upright and slightly curvingadaxially, so that abaxial surface exposed. Lower leaves approximatelyhorizontal.

[0067]Shape.—Broadly ovate, asymmetric; apex acute; base betweentruncate and auriculate, asymmetric,

[0068]Size.—About 45.7 cm long, about 30.2 cm wide; length: width ratioabout 1.5 to 1.

[0069]Texture.—Thick, leathery, glabrous, relatively glossy.

[0070]Venation.—Pinnate, prominent; midrib sunken in adaxial surface andprotrudes from abaxial surface; primary veins are sunken in adaxialsurface and protrude from abaxial surface.

[0071]Color.—Newly unrolled leaf, adaxial: Brown-maroon-green, incapableof precise color description, but darker and more brown than 147A. Aline less than 1 mm wide along margin varies between 185A and 184A.Midrib similar to or slightly lighter than 199A near juncture withpetiole; darker than 199A in distal zone. Portions of primary veins nearmidrib lighter and more green than surrounding tissue. Newly unrolledleaf, abaxial: Variable color between maroon, brown, purple and green.Many areas most similar to 165A with various degree of green undertones.A line less than 1 mm wide along margin varies between 185A and 184A.Midrib between 183A and 183B in proximal zone with short darker striae(183A or darker); approximately 178A in distal zone. Primary veinsusually more pale than midrib. Mature leaf, adaxial: Much darker than147A. A line less than 1 mm wide along margin varies between 187A and187B. Midrib between 146A and a color slightly darker than 147B nearjuncture with petiole; slightly darker in the distal zone (between 147Aand 147B). Portions of primary veins near midrib similar to midrib.Mature leaf, abaxial: More brownish and slightly darker than 147A. Aline less than 1 mm wide along margin varies between 187A and 187B.Midrib uneven color varying between different combinations of 200C,200D, 166A or lighter, and 177A or lighter in proximal zone, with shortdarker striae (approximately 200B); most similar to 166A in distal zone.Primary veins usually more pale than midrib.

[0072] Inflorescence Description:

[0073]Flowering.—Plants typically form inflorescences about 16 monthsafter planting a tissue culture-produced microcutting.

[0074]Inflorescence arrangement.—Inflorescence erect, close to the shootof origin, obscured by the surrounding foliage. One to 3 inflorescencesin each floral sympodium.

[0075]Fragrance.—Not noticeable.

[0076]Peduncle.—Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color:60Aat base to 59A distally.

[0077]Spathe.—Shape: Boat-shaped, thick, fleshy; apex between acuminateand cuspidate; margin, entire. Length: about 14.3 cm. Width: about 7.7cm. Length to width ratio: about 1.9 to 1. Depth: about 2.6 cm. Color:open front: 59A slightly darker at base; open rear: 59A, 59B with basal⅓ slightly darker.

[0078]Spadix.—Shape: Cylindrical, tapering towards acute apex, with thestrongest tapering at distal ⅓. Length: about 12.2 cm. Female, basalzone about 4.5 cm; the intermediate sterile zone and distal male zonecombined, about 7.7 cm. Diameter: female zone, about 1.5 cm; sterile andmale zones, about 1.1 cm. Color: female zone, 59A; sterile and malezones 69A to 68C.

[0079]Pollen.—Dehiscence about one to three days after spathe closes.Pink to cream colored in a liquid secretion.

[0080]Seed production.—Seed production not observed.

[0081] Roots Description: Few thick main roots, orange-brown with darkred root caps. Numerous relatively thin lateral roots vary in colorbetween cream and brown. Numerous thick aerial roots of different lengthand different shades of brown and purplish-brown colors. Many aerialroots have a short zone near tip of a red color (between 46A and 185A).

[0082] Disease and Insect Resistance: Plants of ‘Rojo Congo’, which aregrown in commercial greenhouses and shadehouses, have not shown anyunusual susceptibility to pathogens or insects common to Philodendron.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of philodendron plant named‘Rojo Congo’ as described and illustrated herein: